EARLYSVILLE, Va., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Education change
agent Ted Dintersmith formally
launched the What School Could Be platform today – the most
ambitious step yet in a decade-long effort to support grassroots
educators in their mission to elevate learning and life outcomes
for their students. The platform – which is free – gives
change-minded K-12 educators access to professional development and
coaching, proven resources, and regular events with the goal of
accelerating school transformation post-COVID-19. Most importantly,
the platform offers innovative educators a way to connect with, and
draw inspiration and support from, like-minded colleagues in a
safe, secure online community.
"What School Could Be has built and tested a digital platform
for engagement, sharing, and learning that is free to all,
educator-led, and responsive to each community's unique vision for
school change and transformation," said Dintersmith, founder of
What School Could Be. "It doesn't mandate one right answer, but
supports communities in setting their own goals and then making
joyful teacher-led progress."
During its three-month beta stage, the What School Could Be app
has grown explosively, already engaging more than 1,000 active
users taking advantage of free Office Hours and Faculty Lounge
coaching sessions, creative collaboration, and inspiring resources.
New educators are joining daily to get and share ideas about
post-COVID school transformation. For example, educators in one
state formed a group to discuss authentic student assessment in
civics. A district leader from Canada logged into the app's Office Hours to
get ideas for keeping high schoolers engaged in virtual schools and
received suggestions on effective strategies. Many express
enthusiasm and relief to find like-minded educators in a forum free
of the vitriol, privacy concerns, and data breaches of mainstream
social media platforms.
"The app offers practical resources I can use on a daily basis
to strengthen and improve my school community," said Katina Soares, principal of Molokai High School
in Hawai'i. "Everyone benefits – administration, teachers,
students, and parents. Research shows that if the school climate is
good, the academics will follow."
In conjunction with this launch, What School Could Be is
sponsoring a series of public GameChanger conversations this
spring, as well as providing in partnership with Arizona State University's Mary Lou Fulton Teachers
College a PD offering to teams of educators committed to
reimagining education – both for students and for teachers in the
field. These resources complement an existing Playlist of resources
that is sparking conversation and accelerating change in schools
across the country and around the world.
"As schools reshape themselves post-COVID, there is growing
interest in making sure they re-open with new thinking and fresh
ideas about what best serves our kids, and what restores the joy to
teaching," said Dintersmith. "What better moment than now to
reimagine education?"
What School Could Be founder Ted
Dintersmith, a former venture capitalist, received in 2018
the National Education Association "Friend of Education" Award. His
body of work includes the top-selling book What School Could Be:
Insights and Inspiration from Teachers Across America and the
acclaimed film Most Likely to Succeed. During his
professional career, he was ranked as the top-performing U.S.
venture capitalist for the years 1995-1999.
What School Could Be is a nationwide community of
dedicated educators committed to creating learning
experiences that empower all students to flourish in school
and life. This growing grassroots movement is focused on
transforming school in ways that better prepare students and
restore joy to our classrooms.
Media Contact: David Loewenberg -
dloewenberg@thehatchergroup.com; 301-656-0348
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SOURCE What School Could Be